HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford softball team (11-27) ended its season by splitting a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Juniata College (13-25).
The Panthers dropped game one, 6-1, before coming back to win game two 9-8.
"It's always great to end with a win. I just wonder where this offensive outburst has been all season," said Pitt-Bradford head coach Tina Phillips. "I am glad we could send the three seniors out with a win. They deserved it and will be missed."
Cassidy Lewis led the Panther's offense in game two, going 3-3 with a double, two triples, three RBI and one run scored while Emily Fair went 3-4 with two RBI and Liz Dzurisin was 3-3 with one RBI. Amber Fox and Maddy Hillery added two hits and one RBI each, and Jill Fleming chipped in with an RBI double.
Lewis also led the Panthers in the circle, allowing just three runs on five hits while striking out one over six strong innings to earn her sixth victory of the season.
Dzurisin gave Pitt-Bradford an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single to center in the top of the first. The Panthers then extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the third on Fox's RBI single to right.
The Eagles then tied the game at 2-2 in the home half of the third on a throwing error and sacrifice fly.
Lewis answered with an RBI triple in the top of the fourth, helping the Panthers take a 4-3 lead.
Hillery and Fair followed with RBI singles in the fifth, extending the UPB lead to 6-3.
The Eagles came roaring back with a five-run sixth, starting with a Sarah Sotelo three-run double, followed by back-to-back RBI singles, giving Juniata an 8-6 lead after six.
The Juniata lead didn't last long as Fair brought Natalie Harding home on an infield single, Fleming laced an RBI double and Lewis crushed a two-run triple, capping a four-run top of the seventh and giving the Panthers a 9-7 lead heading into the home half of the seventh.
Kerigan Ammerman brought the Eagles to within 9-8 with an RBI single, but that's as close as the Eagles would come in the finale.
The Eagles used a five-run second inning to capture a 6-1 victory in game one.
Hillery had the Panther's only hit and drove in their only run in the 6-1 loss in the opener.
